FAQs:
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication prescribed by doctors to treat depression, insomnia, anxiety & panic attacks. It belongs to a group of drugs known as serotonin modulators, which affect the natural chemical serotonin in the brain. Trazodone is sold under brand names Oleptro, Desyrel, Desyrel dividose, and Trazodone D. Trazodone was developed in the 1960s as an antidepressant and later approved by the FDA as a prescribed medication.
What are the Side Effects of Trazodone?
The common side effects that can be seen in patients after taking Trazodone are –
– dry mouth
– bad taste in the mouth
– stuffy nose
– headache
– vomiting
– constipation
– anxiety
– dizziness
– drowsiness
– fatigue
– nausea
Some severe effects may be seen in patients after taking Trazodone:
– Hypotension
– Orthostatic hypotension (sudden low blood pressure after getting up from sitting or lying)
– Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
– Priapism (persistent, usually painful, erection)
– Leukopenia (low WBC count in the blood)
1. Does Trazodone help with alcohol withdrawal?
Trazodone is a second-generation anti-depression drug that means it is used when the other pharmacologic management or drugs have failed to treat the patient in the first attempt. Trazodone is found very helpful in withdrawing alcohol symptoms from the patients. It is used for de-addiction in patients and prevents sleep disturbances and cravings.
2. Why does Trazodone cause a stuffy nose?
A stuffy nose is a common side effect that may be seen in patients after taking Trazodone. Trazodone usually causes chemical changes in the brain that may cause some allergic reactions to the sinus. Although some patients have a stuffy nose when they take this medicine, it depends on their dosage. If the stuffy nose doesn’t go away in two weeks, you should consult your doctor to reduce the dosage.
3. How long does Trazodone stay in your urine?
If you take Trazodone, its effects on your body may last up to several hours. Trazodone’s half is known to be 5-13hours that means it is excreted out from the body by 50% every 5-13 hours. The timing also depends on your health condition and dosage. However, Trazodone is completely out of the body once you stop taking it within 1-3 days.
4. How to sleep without Trazodone?
Trazodone is approved by the FDA as an antidepressant and not as an anti-insomnia drug. However, through the years, Trazodone is very effective in curing insomnia and helps patients sleep without mental disturbances. If you have been prescribed Trazodone for insomnia after a course of time, your doctor would gradually decrease the dosage until a point where you can sleep freely without this medicine.
5. Is Trazodone a narcotic?
No trazodone is not classified as a narcotic or controlled substance in the United States. The FDA approves Trazodone as a prescribed antidepressant drug. It is used worldwide as a second-generation anti-depression medication to treat major depressive disorders, adjunct therapy in alcohol dependence (drug de-addiction), insomnia, anxiety & panic attacks.
6. Does Trazodone cause hair loss?
Any mood stabilizers or antidepressants may lead to hair loss in the patients as they can cause an imbalance in the hormones. Trazodone is a tricyclic antidepressant, and in rare cases, it may lead to alopecia. Alopecia is a disorder that causes heavy hair fall and hair loss in chunks.
7. Does Trazodone cause weight gain?
Trazodone is an antidepressant and may make you sleep more, and in that case, it may lead to weight gain. Generally, if you are taking Trazodone under low doses, it doesn’t affect your weight. Once you increase the dosage, it may cause an increase or decrease in your weight, leading to weight loss or weight gain depending on your body’s response to Trazodone.
8. Is Trazodone a strong sleeping pill?
Apart from an antidepressant, Trazodone is used by doctors to treat patients with insomnia. The FDA has not listed Trazodone as an anti-insomnia drug, yet its sedative effects cause the patient to sleep within 30minutes of taking this drug. You should take precautions and consult a doctor before taking Trazodone as a sleeping pill.
10. Does Trazodone help with anxiety right away?
When used to treat depression or anxiety and panic attacks, Trazodone takes a little longer to show results. When you are taking Trazodone to treat anxiety, it may take up to 1 to 2 weeks for the drug to start to work, and it can be 4 to 6 weeks to see good results and betterment. Trazodone is a prescribed medication and should only be taken under expert medical supervision.
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Side Effects:
– bad taste in the mouth
– stuffy nose
– headache
– vomiting
– constipation
– anxiety
– dizziness
– drowsiness
– fatigue
– nausea
– Hypotension
– Orthostatic hypotension (sudden low blood pressure after getting up from sitting or lying)
– Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
– Priapism (persistent, usually painful, erection)
– Leukopenia (low WBC count in the blood)